Windmill.



No. 65|,544. Patent-d1une l2, |900.

A.. n. DEMPsTEn.

WINDMILL;

A (Application filed. May 15, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet No. 65|,544. Patented ,lune I2, |900.

' A. R. DEMPSTER.

W I N D M I L L.

(Application led May 15, 1899.)

2 sheets-sheet 42.

(No Model.)

d/WJ ,d ZV.

'ma Nosns Pains co., PNDTQUTHO.. wAsHsNoToN. q c.

UNITED PATENT EEICE.

ALEXANDER R. DEMrsrEa/or D EsMoINE-s, IowA, AssIeNoR To THE DEMPs'rEE MANUEAGTURINGCOMPANY, oF SAME PLACE.

WINDMILL.

srEcI'rrcArroN forming part of :Letters Patent No. 631,544, atea uns i2, 1960. Atpncaiou air-a May i5, 1899. serai No. 716,930. (Nt modem To all whom t ino/y concern:

r Beit known that I, ALEXANDER R. DEMP- STER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Des Moines, Poll; county, Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Windmills, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide improved means for balance gearin g and supporting a vaneless windmill and throwing the'v feathering wind-wheel into wind.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation ofA a portion of a windmill illustrating my improved construction. of the devices shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the cap and the upper individual of the nest of gears. Fig. 4 is a crosssection of the device, the ca p and upper gear being removed. Fig. 5 is a plan'of the ring employed to carry the capvand upper gear. Fig. 6 4is an elevation of one of the sections of the cap. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section illustrating the means employed to connect the cap and ring. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the indicated line 8 8 ofFig. 6.

In the construction of the device as shown the numerals 10, 11, 12, and 13 designate the posts of a windmill-tower, constructed of Vangle-plates and connected and supported in any desired manner. A bowl-shaped bedplate 14 is mounted between the posts of the tower and provided with integral radiallyextending arms 15, 16, 17, and 18, turned downwardly at their extremities` and slotted to receive bolts 19, 20, 21, and 22, which bolts traverse bolt-holes in the posts and are secured by nuts 23 on their outer ends impinging the outer faces of the posts. The upper edge or rim of the bowl-shaped bed-plate is horizontal, and au aperture 24 is formed yin the center of the lower portion of the plate to receive a shaft 25, vertically positioned therein. The lower end of the shaft 25 is coupled to the upper end of a power-shaft `26, and said power-shaft may be geared in any deand out of lthe Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a portion between the rollers 34 39 and 36 37.

sired manner to a machine to be driven, the coupling 27 therefor being connected to the shaft 25 bya feather-key 28. An annular race or seat 29, inclined in cross-section, is formed in the upper edge of the rim of the bowlshaped bed-plate 14 concentric with the center of the bowl, and a miter-gear 30 is mounted rigidly on the upper end of the shaft 25 within the bowl and below the horizontal plane of the race. Awear-plate 3 1 is mounted loosely around the shaft 25 between the lower face of the hub of the wheel 30 and the upper face of the lower portion of the bed-v plate. An annular turn-table or ring 32 is provided of slightly-greater diameter than the race 29 and positioned immediately above .the rim of the bowl-shaped bed-plate 14.

,rim of the bowl-shaped bed-plate and within the race 29. The studs or pivots 33 are l "spaced apart equal distances, and consequently the rollers, projecting below the lower edge of the rim of the turn-table, support the turn-table and balance it firmly for revolution. A hub is located in the center tirely across the turn-table 32, and the endsV thereof are secured against rotationin the rim Mitergears 46 47 are mounted loosely for revolution on the shaft and mesh with and on diametrieally-opposite points of the miter-gear 30. Studs, lugs, or projections 48, 49, and 50 are formed on and radiate from the outer face or periphery of the turn-table 32 at equal distances of separation. A cap 51, formed in two sections 51 51b of dome shape, is provided and positioned immediately above the bed-plate 14 and concentric with the axis of the shaft 25. The sections of the cap are formed with ribs or flanges 52 53 on their plane margins and abutting each other, and said flanges are IOO connected by bolts 54, secured by nuts in a common manner. The rim portion of the cap 51 is formed with offsets, forming bosses or projections on the exterior and notches or seats 55, 56, and 57 on the interior. The seats or notches of the cap are spaced apart equal distances and of such size and shape as to receive and engage snugly the lugs or projections 48, 49, and 50 on the periphery of the turn-table 32. Thus the turntable 32 is secured to and supports the cap 51. A hub is formed on and at the center and top of the cap, one-half of the hub being in each section, and is centrally. bored to receive the lower end portion of a sleeve 5G, vertically positioned and extending upwardly from the cap. Set-screws 57 are mounted in the hub of the cap and impinge the periphery of the sleeve 56 at their inner ends. A socket is formed in the center of the upper face of the hub 40 of the tu r11-table 32, and a plate 5S rests in said socket. A retaining-plate 59, formed with a central circular aperture, is mounted on and bolted to the top of the hub 40, with its aperture immediately above the socket in said hub. Ashaf t GO is mounted in the sleeve 5G and stepped on the plate 58, and the lower end of said shaft is retained against lateral movementby the plate 59. Oil may be placed in the socket of the hub 40 to lubricate the lower end of the shaft 60 on the plate 5S. A miter-gear 61 is mounted rigidly on the shaft GO immediately above the plate 59 and meshes with and on diametrically-opposite points of the gears 4G 47. The lower end portion of the sleeve 5G is journaled in the center of a steadying-bearing 62, also formed in sections and connected by bolts 63, provided with radial arms arranged and so shaped as to be secured to the tower-posts above the arms of the bowl-shaped bed-plate. A collar 64 is mounted loosely on the sleeve 5G and is formed with an an nular peripheral groove. A bracket GG ismounted on the tower-post 13, and a link 67 is pivoted at its upper end on the bracket and depends therefrom. A lever G8 is fulcrumed at one end on the lower end of the link 87 and extends across the collar 64 and beyond the post 10. A strap is bolted to the lever GS in opposition to a flexed or offset portion of said lever, and pins 69 in the lever and strap (one only of which is shown) enter the annular peripheral groove in the collar 64. A platform 70 is mounted on and projects outwardly from the tower-posts above the collar 64, and a rod 71 is fixed to and rises from the collar. The rod 71 is adapted to connect the collar 64 to lever mechanism of common form, whereby the feathering-blades of the wind-wheel may be operated into or out of the wind. A draft rod or wire 72 is attached to and depends from the free end of the lever 68 and may be operated manually to pull the lever downwardly, depress the collar 64 and rod 71, and throw the mill out of the wind. A draft-wire 73 is attached to the free end` portion of the lever 68, extended over a sheave 74,beneath 'the platform 70,and depends from' said sheave. The draft-wire 73 may be operated manually to elevate the lever, collar 64, and rod 71 and throw the wind-wheel into the wind.

In practical use and operation the cap is carried by the ring or tu r11-table and the turntable is carried by the rollers travelingin the race 29. The sleeve is carriedby the cap,and said sleeve carries the windmill-head. The bed-plate 14 supports the miter-gear 30,whicl1 meshes with and is driven by the miter-gears 4G 47 and in turn drives the shaft 25, coupling 27, and shaft 26. The connection, by means of the feather-key 28, between the coupling 27 and shaft 25 permits the coupling and weight carried thereby to move downwardly without straining or pulling on the shaft 25. Therefore the bed-plate is relieved of the weight of the coupling and shaft 26. The miter-gears 46 47 are carried by the turntable, and the hub of said turn-table carries the shaft 60 and miter-wheel 6l, said latter wheel meshing with and driving the gears 4G 47. Thus the millhead is free to revolve under the influence of shifting air-currents Aon the bed-plate 14 by means of the frustum-shapcd rollers traveling in the race 29 without in any manner altering the operation of the initier-gears, the power communicated through said gears being constant and unvarying, save and except as the speed of the wind-wheel varies under the changing forces of the air-currents.

By forming the cap in sections I am enabled to remove one section thereof and have access to the nest of gears, race, and rollers.

By the use of the lever (3S, fulcrumed at one end and controlled by two draft wires or rods, I am enabled to control and adjust the feathering-blades of the wind-wheel positively and conveniently.

l claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the bed-plate formed with an annular race, a turn-table, rollers on said turn-table and mounted for travel in the race, a cap carried by said turn-table and non-contacting with the rollers,the sleeve car- :ried by the cap and arranged for attachment to a windmill-head, a shaft mounted for rotation in the bed-plate, a miter-gear on said shaft above the bed-plate, miter-gears on the turn-table meshing with the gear on the shaft, a shaft stepped on the turn-table, a mitergear on the latter shaft and meshing with the gears on the turn-table, which latter shaft is adapted for gearing with a wind-wheel, and means for connecting the first shaft to a machine to be driven.

2. In a windmill, the bed-plate formed with a race, the rollers arranged for travel in the race, the ring pivotally connected with and carried by said rollers, the cap mounted on the ring above and spaced apart from the rollers and means for connecting said cap to a windmill-head.

In a windmill, the combination of the TOO IIO

IZO

bed-plate formed 4with a race, the turn-table mounted above-the bed-plate, the pivots mounted on and projecting inwardly from the rim of said turn-table, the frustum-shaped rollers mounted for revolution on said pivots and arranged for travel in the race of the bedplate, the radial projections on the rim of the turn-table, the cap formed with 'seats or notches in its rim arranged and so shaped as to receive the radial projections on the turntable, which cap is above and spaced apart from the rollers, and means for connecting the cap to a windmill-head.

4. The bed-plate formed with an annular race, the annular turn-table mounted above the bed-plate, the pivots mounted on and projecting inwardly from the turntable, the frustum -shaped rollers mounted loosely on said pivots and resting on the bed-plate within the race, the radial projections on:the turntable, the cap formed in sections bolted together and provided with seats arranged and so shaped as to receive the projections of the turn-table, which cap is above and spaced apart from the rollers and wholly supported by the turn-table, and means for connecting said cap to a windmill-head.

5. The combination of the tower-posts, the bed-plate, the arms on said bed-plate, which arms are turned downwardly at their eX- tremities and slotted for attachment to said posts, the turn-table positioned above and parallel with the upper edge of the bed-plate, the pivots on said turn-table, the rollers on said pivots resting on the bed-plate, the cap fixed to and wholly carried by the turn-table and above and spaced apart from the rollers, the sleeve xed to and rising from said cap, the miter-wheel in the bedplate, the shaft fixed to and depending from Vthe miterwheel through said bed-plate, the shaft traversing the turn-table, the miter-wheels thereon and meshing with the irst miter-wheel, the shaft stepped on the turn-table and rising through said sleeve,.the miter-wheel on 45 the latter shaft and meshing with the miterwheels on the turn-table and the steadyingbearing surrounding the sleeve and attached to the posts.

6. The bed-plate formed with an annular race, the annular turn-table mounted above the bed-plate, the pivots mounted on and projecting inwardly from the turn-table, the frustum-shaped rollers mounted loosely on said pivots and arranged for travel on the bed-plate and within the race thereof, the shaft 25 vertically traversing the bed-plate, the miter-gear 30 rigidly mounted on the upper end of said shaft and stepped on the bedplate, a hub 40 centrally of the turn-table and rigidly connected to the rim thereof, a shaft mounted diametrically of and entirely across the turn-table and secured against rotation by its ends xed in the rim of said turn-table, miter-gears 46, 47 mounted loosely on the shaft 45 on opposite sides of the hub.

40 and meshing, at diametrically-opposite points, with the miter-gear 30, the shaft 60 stepped in the hub 40 and supported thereby, the miter-gear 6l mounted rigidly on the shaft 60 and meshing, at diametrically-opposite points, with the miter-gears 46, 47, the radial projections on the turn-table, the cap formed of sections bolted together and provided with seats arranged and so shaped as to receive the projections of the turn-table, which cap is above and spaced apart from the rollers and wholly supported by the turn-table, and is loosely traversed by the shaft 60, and means for connecting said cap to a windmill-head.

Signed by me at Des Moines, Iowa, this 3d day of April, 1899.

ALEXANDER E. DEMPsTEE.

Witnesses:

E. FORT GIBSON, S. C. SWEET. 

